I am a jazz alto saxophonist, and I have been playing for about six years, and I'm looking to purchase a new alto saxophone. Can anyone recommend some good brands or makes? Okay first of all there are several good choices. One choice is a Keilwerth. This is a german compnay that makes a saxophone with a bigger bell for greater resonance. If you can't get one because they are too expensive get a Cannonball big bell (same concept). Now if you think that you are incredibly lucky get a Selmer Mark VI, that is the best saxophone available. There is this Japanese company that makes good saxes called Yanisagawa and they make a good sax, But all of the professionals either play with a Keilwerth or a Selmer. I am thinking of getting a Cannonball Raven, because it's black.
I hope this helps you and I wish you the best. Depends on your price range, at the top of coarse are the infamous Mark VI made by selmer
I do not particullary like their newer saxophones, but the Series II by them is also VERY nice, i play silver series II selmer.
Another great choice is any yamaha, they have the best quality all price range saxophones, be safe and stick with a yamaha if you are looking at anything below professional, in which case i would choose Selmer. (make sure it is Paris not selmer USA) stray from random chinese and taiwanese makers. You should also try some older horns, like martin's, conn's form the 1940s. Most of them have kick *** tones of course the action will probably suffer being that there older | 